Officers failed to follow mental health steps in killing

TWO NSW police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a mentally ill man on Christmas Day 2009 ago did not comply with mental health protocols, an inquest has found.

But the Deputy State Coroner, Sharon Freud, said the officers acted reasonably in a ''highly stressed, emotive and dynamic environment''.

Ian Cowie, 48, was shot by police in his homein Lisarow, on the central coast, after he lunged with a knife at an officer who was trying to detain him under the Mental Health Act.

Handing down the findings into his death on Monday, the coroner said the decision by senior constables Bradley Owen and Neil Prest to detain Mr Cowie was reasonable, but they had not complied with the central coast mental health protocol.

Calls should have also been made for the duty operations inspector or the mental health intervention team to attend the scene, or at least give guidance.

She recommended additional police training at Brisbane Waters Local Area Command on the protocol.